The Sentinels tristesse

Her small sneezes subsided, and as she saw his arms open— he was becoming more corporeal as her vision improved and adjusted to the low light of their cavern— Emaleth bounded happily into them. "Daaaa!" came her joyful sound, unaware that it meant father, or that it would become her word for him; only that she was glad to see him, and wanted him to know.

The scent of pine continued to tickle at her nose, but it was no longer so overwhelming to her senses. From her father's embrace, she inspected the odd branch with sight and sound, leaning towards it as though she wished to touch it but, perhaps, thought it off limits— but then the Bringer spoke, and Emaleth lapsed into her new favorite game: repetition. "Aaii-nnnnn," she offered in return, grinning up at him, not realizing yet that this word was connected to the aromatic gift.